Testimonials

This will be the tenth summer that TFANA has hosted Teaching Shakespeare’s Plays through Scholarship and Performance with funding from the NEH. Here’s what participants in past Institutes had to say:

“The TFANA-NEH summer seminar was hands-down the best professional development experience I have had in my 10+ years of high school teaching. The work–both in scholarship and performance–was challenging, invigorating, relevant, and applicable…I will bring back these approaches this year, not only in my Shakespeare unit but also in our study of literature and cultures in other areas.”

“The Institute was a life-changing / teacher-changing experience for me.”

“This was THE most powerful professional development experience I have ever had. From the quality of the professors/instructors to the organization and camaraderie of the host and her staff to the high level of scholarship and collegiality of my fellow participants, this institute was a grand slam.”

“This experience was irreplaceable. To have the opportunity to step back into the shoes of a student for two weeks was such a joy.”

“There are very few professional development opportunities that extend my knowledge base, connect my personal passions, renew my own love for learning, improve my instruction as a professional, and challenge me as a scholar. This institute did so.”

 “I thought the faculty and staff were awesome. Very knowledgeable and ACCESSIBLE. While they did LEAD the group, they were very much a PART of the group as well. There was a strong camaraderie built amongst the staff and participants.”

“The combination of scholarship/research with the physical/acting/directing aspect cultivated a unique and inspirational learning environment…Going back to the classroom I feel that I am an expert in Shakespeare, and thus able to teach my students with a newfound confidence in my subject.”

“This program was ALL I’d hoped and expected it to be — and more. A high level of discourse and instruction, thoughtfully designed and sequenced. Useful strategies for the classroom. It truly was an integrated, “combined” approach to Shakespeare.”

“The instructors were excellent and my peers were equally talented and impressive. The activities were varied enough to make every day different and the assignments for the participants were both challenging and instructive.”

“Overall, this was an amazing experience that both reinvigorated my passion for scholarship and inspired me to take back the strategies and approaches the instructors used to get us on our feet and into Shakespeare’s language.”

Questions? Contact us at education@tfana.org

A copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio, which participants get to view and handle on the Columbia University Rare Book & Manuscript Library tour.

Polonsky Shakespeare Center, home of the NEH Summer Institute

Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

TFANA’s NEH Summer Institute is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

Pictured above: Participants in the 2018 NEH Summer Institute for School Teachers; Polonsky Shakespeare Center, photo ©David Sundberg/Esto.